Time Off For Public Duties Policy

  1. ABOUT THIS POLICY

    1. We wish to enable employees to perform any public duties that they may be committed to undertake and so will give them time off to do so where it does not conflict with the operational needs of our business. We are not legally obliged to grant paid leave for these purposes.
    2. This policy does not form part of any employee’s or worker’s contract of employment or engagement and we may amend it at any time.

  2. JURY SERVICE

    1. You should tell your line manager as soon as you are summoned for jury service and provide a copy of your summons if requested.
    2. Depending on the demands of our business we may request that you apply to be excused from or defer your jury service.
    3. We are not required by law to pay you while you are absent on jury service. You will be advised at court of the expenses and loss of earnings that you can claim.

  3. VOLUNTARY PUBLIC DUTIES

    1. Employees are entitled to a reasonable amount of unpaid time off work to carry out certain public duties, including duties as a tribunal member, magistrate, local councillor, member of an NHS Trust, prison visitor, police station lay visitor or school governor.
    2. If you are unsure whether a public service that you perform is covered by this policy you should speak to your manager.
    3. As soon as you are aware that you will require time off for performance of a public service you should notify your line manager in writing, providing full details of the time off that is being requested and the reasons for your request. In order that arrangements can be made to cover your duties in your absence you should make your request in good time.
    4. Each request for time off will be considered on its merits taking account of all the circumstances, including how much time is reasonably required for the activity, how much time you have already taken, and how your absence will affect the business.

  4. RESERVE FORCES DUTIES

    1. We are aware that employees who are members of the Reserve Forces (the Territorial Army, Royal Navy Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve or Royal Auxiliary Air Force) may be called-up at any time to be deployed on full-time operations, and are expected to attend regular training.
    2. We are under no obligation to offer leave (either paid or unpaid) for reservists to undertake training and you should use existing holiday entitlement to meet training commitments.
    3. If we receive notice that you have been called-up for active service we may apply to an adjudication officer for the notice to be deferred or revoked if your absence would cause serious harm to our business (which could not be prevented by the grant of financial assistance).
    4. Once your military service has ended you may submit a written application for reinstatement to your employment. This should be made by the third Monday following the end of your military service and you should notify us of the date on which you will be available to restart work.
    5. If it is not reasonable and practicable to reinstate you into your former employment we will offer you the most favourable alternative on the most favourable terms and conditions which are reasonable and practicable.